When I went to Peabody, I quickly learned about the Peabody Curse – that is, anyone you may be talking about will immediately enter the room while you are doing just that. My friend Sorab adds that the proximity of the person will be in direct proportion to just how badly you are speaking ofContinue reading “The Peabody Curse”
Author Archives: Mezzoid Voice Studio
Playing Favorites with your Musical Children
This Friday, April 29, Ryan and I will be performing “If Music Be the Food of Love: A Culinary Cabaret” at Carroll University. This is the second of the cabaret shows that I’ve written for our duo, the first being “Oh, to be a movie star.”As much as I loved the first show, the ideaContinue reading “Playing Favorites with your Musical Children”
How to talk to a tenor (or any singer)…. some thoughts
I went to a pre-conference workshop (Pedagogy Saturday) on March 26 and attended a session with the above title. It was run by two teachers, one piano, one voice, and was intended to foster communication between singers and pianists, especially those who are young and not used to collaborating. Also some things about playing forContinue reading “How to talk to a tenor (or any singer)…. some thoughts”
Musings on an April Fool’s Joke – one year later
Last year, someone wrote me a terrible email criticizing me for talking too much in my lessons and not being worth the “very expensive” rate that I charged – it was signed “Anonymous” and came from someone identified as “S S” along with an email address that I will not post. I was hurt andContinue reading “Musings on an April Fool’s Joke – one year later”
The biggest risk I ever took in an audition
The last show I did was A Cudahy Carolers Christmas with In Tandem Theater in the winters of 2003, 2004 (onstage) and 2005 (run-outs, private parties). That was my first and only musical theater experience, other than the cabaret work that Ryan and I have been doing. Since my auditions for classical music have alwaysContinue reading “The biggest risk I ever took in an audition”
Trampoline
I’ve been using the analogy of the trampoline lately in approaching high notes. If someone is on a trampoline and wants to go high into the air, do you stand in the middle of the trampoline and jump up? No, you jump into the trampoline and let the momentum “ka-boing” you into the air. IfContinue reading “Trampoline”
Opera Plus self-review
Today I had my MacDowell Club performance of the two Rossini concert arias. In the past few years, many of my performances and auditions have been compromised by performance anxiety which has frustrated me. It’s left me vocally dry, unable to unlock my breath, consequently affecting my legato and sostenuto. Sometimes I’ve gotten around itContinue reading “Opera Plus self-review”
Re-defining myself – again
When I came back to Milwaukee in 1996, I thought I had a pretty good idea of who I had become. I was an opera singer. Period. I also had decent skills as a legal secretary, but that was something I could do, not something I was. It paid the bills for awhile – andContinue reading “Re-defining myself – again”
A musical colleague lost, but a musical memory remains
At 7:30 Friday morning, as I was sitting in the lobby of UWM’s recital talking to friends about the upcoming day of the NATS auditions, I got a message on my phone. A high school friend of mine, Bruce Adrian, had died. I don’t know all the details of his passing, but Bruce had battledContinue reading “A musical colleague lost, but a musical memory remains”
NATS 2010 – good news!
I am thrilled to announce that, for the 9th consecutive year, the studio had finalists in the Wisconsin NATS auditions. This year, the competition was held at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and there were 6 contestants from the studio: Kat GeertsenJane Engelking HeerLissa DeGuzmanLeah VogelK.C. RaschStephanie Kritzell Kat & Jane were both finalists in theContinue reading “NATS 2010 – good news!”